1
: a small plate of shining metal or plastic used for ornamentation especially on clothing
2
: a small glittering object or particle
spangled; spangling
ˈspaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 
: to set or sprinkle with or as if with spangles
: to glitter as if covered with spangles : sparkle
Synonyms
Examples of spangle in a Sentence
Noun
showgirls dressed in costumes with gold spangles
Verb
in typical Las Vegas fashion, the showgirls' sequined costumes spangled gloriously
Recent Examples on the Web
Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023
Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow.
—Jack Healy, New York Times, 31 July 2023
Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes, and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow.
—Jack Healy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2023
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, ingenue Elle Fanning was transformed by a sensual Greco-Roman goddess gown of hundreds of silver feather-like spangles from the Fall 2023 collection that stood apart even on Hollywood’s most daring red carpet.
—Jessica Iredale, Town & Country, 5 July 2023
It was also embroidered with gilt metal thread, wire, and spangles by the folks at Edward Stillwell & Company.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 May 2023
The sky is coated with blue lacquer, and silver spangles represent the stars.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2023
Today, plastic trash spangles the river’s sandy banks.
—Paul Salopek, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2019
Even office wear wasn’t immune: Glimmering spangles covered pencil skirts and blazers alike.
—Eliza Brooke, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023
Similarly, the flavorful pork chop—probably the most traditionally Filipino item on the menu—slathered in a creamy Billi Bi sauce, liberally spangled with mussels, and showered in trout roe, could have removed at least one piece of jewelry before departing the kitchen.
—Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023
Chopra’s dress—sheer and intricately spangled, revealing a high-waist lingerie set beneath—was taken from Giambattista Valli’s fall 2023 collection.
—Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 7 Sep. 2023
The score’s million details spangled the surface, all competing for simultaneous attention.
—Vulture, 22 May 2023
One pivotal performance in a later episode that begins a dark period for Daisy features a sheer black caftan spangled in sequins—which Wingate sourced from Free People.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023
In one of those fine cosmic coincidences that spangle throughout cultural history, the poet Hart Crane watched the legendary dancer Isadora Duncan perform in Cleveland one night in December 1922.
—Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2021
After dinner, the captain, crew, and willing passengers bring out guitars, fiddles, harmonicas, banjos — one boat even has a piano aboard – and sing and play until the stars spangle the night sky.
—Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 24 May 2021
Brighten your door with this patriotic 16-inch wreath made of red, white and blue wood curls resembling rose buds spangled with stars.
—Kathy Passero, al, 15 May 2020
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Noun
The legends of the ’60s and ’70s now tour the casinos and outdoor festivals decked out in calmer, more assured versions of the spangle and sartorial peacocking that brought them here — and kept them here, longer than anyone imagined pop stars could live.
—Hank Stuever, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023
Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow.
—Jack Healy, New York Times, 31 July 2023
Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes, and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow.
—Jack Healy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2023
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, ingenue Elle Fanning was transformed by a sensual Greco-Roman goddess gown of hundreds of silver feather-like spangles from the Fall 2023 collection that stood apart even on Hollywood’s most daring red carpet.
—Jessica Iredale, Town & Country, 5 July 2023
It was also embroidered with gilt metal thread, wire, and spangles by the folks at Edward Stillwell & Company.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 May 2023
The sky is coated with blue lacquer, and silver spangles represent the stars.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2023
Today, plastic trash spangles the river’s sandy banks.
—Paul Salopek, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2019
Even office wear wasn’t immune: Glimmering spangles covered pencil skirts and blazers alike.
—Eliza Brooke, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Verb
The event was spangled with Peter Rabbit cut-outs, balloons, desserts like a multitiered Peter Rabbit cake, a DJ, a photo booth and more.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023
Similarly, the flavorful pork chop—probably the most traditionally Filipino item on the menu—slathered in a creamy Billi Bi sauce, liberally spangled with mussels, and showered in trout roe, could have removed at least one piece of jewelry before departing the kitchen.
—Jiayang Fan, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023
Chopra’s dress—sheer and intricately spangled, revealing a high-waist lingerie set beneath—was taken from Giambattista Valli’s fall 2023 collection.
—Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 7 Sep. 2023
The score’s million details spangled the surface, all competing for simultaneous attention.
—Vulture, 22 May 2023
One pivotal performance in a later episode that begins a dark period for Daisy features a sheer black caftan spangled in sequins—which Wingate sourced from Free People.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023
In one of those fine cosmic coincidences that spangle throughout cultural history, the poet Hart Crane watched the legendary dancer Isadora Duncan perform in Cleveland one night in December 1922.
—Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2021
After dinner, the captain, crew, and willing passengers bring out guitars, fiddles, harmonicas, banjos — one boat even has a piano aboard – and sing and play until the stars spangle the night sky.
—Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 24 May 2021
Brighten your door with this patriotic 16-inch wreath made of red, white and blue wood curls resembling rose buds spangled with stars.
—Kathy Passero, al, 15 May 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spangle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English spangel, diminutive of spang shiny ornament, probably from Middle Dutch spange; akin to Old English spang buckle, Middle Dutch spannen to stretch
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1548, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of spangle was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near spangle
Cite this Entry
“Spangle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spangle. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
spangle
1 of 2 noun
span·gle
ˈspaŋ-gəl
1
: a small piece of shining metal or plastic used for ornamentation on clothing
2
: a small glittering object
spangle
2 of 2 verb
spangled; spangling
ˈspaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ
: to set or sprinkle with or as if with spangles
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